![]() ![]() Therefore, Taoist teachings and practices are designed to help people understand the natural order of the world so that they can follow it. Taoism is named after the principle of Tao, which Hoff defines as “the Way of the Universe.” Tao represents the patterns and rhythms of nature, which the ancient Taoist philosophers Lao-tse and Chuang-tse argue that humans must learn to follow. Taoism’s central principle, as Hoff explains it, is that people should live in harmony with nature instead of fighting against it. Hoff argues that Taoism, which he also calls “the way of Pooh,” can bring people happiness, serenity, and wisdom by teaching them to follow their inner nature and respect other beings and forces in the world. In contrast, Taoists focus on “appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life.” They prioritize simplicity, gratitude, and instinct over complexity, ambition, and cleverness. In the modern world, most people focus on chasing after their goals and overpowering the obstacles that life throws at them. According to Hoff, Pooh embodies Taoism’s fundamental message-that people are happier, healthier, and wiser when they live in harmony with nature than when they struggle against it. He looked down and saw far below him the fixture of a stonecutter.In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff explains the basic principles of Taoism through a source that most readers wouldn’t ordinarily associate with high-minded Chinese philosophy: A.A. "What could be more powerful than I, the stone?" he thought. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock, and felt himself being changed. I wish that I could be a stone!" Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it-a huge, towering stone "How powerful that stone is”" he thought. "I wish that I could be the wind!" Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, hated and feared by all below him. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. "I wish that I could be a cloud!" Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" he thought. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. "How powerful the sun is!" he thought "I wish that I could be the sun!" Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. "I wish that I could be a high official!" Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around, who had to bow down before him as he passed. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. ![]() Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Then he would no longer have to live the life of a mere stonecutter. He became very envious, and wished that he could be like the merchant. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stonecutter. One day, he passed a wealthy merchant's house, and through the open gateway, saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “There was once a stonecutter, who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.
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